Nova Orleans

If you ar a jazz aficionado you won't need the services of a plot to enjoy New Orlrans. Either the city or the movie. A city known for fine dining and the creation of jazz. This film is a feast of jazz with some other music served on the side.

The plot such as it is has Arturo DeCordova as the owner of a gambling spot that features that new found music created in the city called jazz. DeCordova gets involved with society debutante Dorothy Patrick. But her mother Irene Rich wants a career for her with more highbrow music. Eventually DeCordova moves his operation to Chicago and the rest is history.

But when you get to hear music from Louis Armstrong, Billie Holidy, Woody Herman and so many more just forget the story and enjoy.

Without Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday and their musical supporting cast, this would be a forgettable melodrama. To me the most interesting aspect of this movie is the contrast of cultures - the stuffy white world symbolized by classical/operatic music (some very excellent), the blues/jazz world of the downtrodden but resilient black population and the white "early adopters" of their music. The music is tremendous. Although this movie would never win an Academy Award except for music, the cast is overall excellent given their material. Anyone who loves Armstrong or Holiday should own this. I saw this on Turner classic movies and I'm going to buy it.

Just the musicians alone make this a worthwhile movie...jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Kid Ory, Barney Bigard, Meade 'Lux' Lewis, Woody Herman, Zutty Singleton, and others have close-ups, and a number of them have speaking parts. There are nine musical numbers featured in the movie also.

Wonderful entertainment. If you love Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday you will enjoy this film. Satchmo on the horn with Billie Holiday singing with it. Two greats that we will never see again. This movie may be a bit outdated but that is part of it's charm. I just love even hearing Sathmo's voice when he is just talking let alone his magic horn. I recommend this movie for all old time jazz fans who want to see some of the greats on film even if they appear for only for a few minutes. Movies like this really make me think of our mortality. Everyone is gone but their spirit still lives on. That is my own personal feeling. After watching this movie I just want to listen to all the old jazz tunes played by the old timers. I would really not call this a great movie. It's just lots of fun.

Five of my seven stars are for "all that Jazz"....the sixth star is for the underlying story of how music crosspolinates ...the 7th star goes to Arturo de Cordoba, One of the most active Mexican actors during their Epoca de Oro cinematic age (1945-1956). His participatiin in this film accentuates the commitment by the film makers to create this most wonderful window into the worst and best of our National culture...during an era of great prejudice and Nativist activity.